Ephesus Tours

The ancient city of Ephesus, which is located in Selcuk district of İzmir, hosted to different civilizations including Roman, Greek, and Turkish. Ephesus has survived since the ancient Greeks. It was under the rule of the Roman Empire before it was captured by the Turks. The ancient city of Ephesus is home to the Celsus Library, the Temple of Artemis, the Basilica of St Jean, the long roads, the Isa Bey Mosque, and the House of Virgin Mary. If you have not seen this enormous structures, you will be curious about it and will want to see it after having information about Ephesus.

Ephesus, which is one of the most important centers of the ancient period, had been settled in the Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, and Ottoman periods for 9000 years. Being a gate between East and West, Ephesus was also an important port city. This feature made Ephesus an important trade and political center at that time. Ephesus, which contains the icons of the Hellenistic and Roman Periods that reflect the superior urbanization, architecture and religious history, has the most outstanding examples of architectural and urban planning. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.

The cult center, which dates back to the 8th century BC and became famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, hosts the Temple of Artemis. Another place to visit is House of Virgin Mary. It is believed that Jesus’ mother spent the last years of Mary with John. It was a place of pilgrimage for Christians and some of the popes were visited. Next historical place is the Celsus Library. The Celsus library, one of the most beautiful buildings in the Roman period, served both as a library and as a tomb monument. When Celsius, the governor of Ephesus, died in 106, his son built the library as a tomb monument in the name of his father. Isa Bey Mosque is another famous place in Ephesus. It was built in 1374-75 by İsa Bey of Aydınogulları on Ayasuluk Hill. It is located between the Temple of Artemis and the Church of Saint Jean. The mosque has rich ornaments and tiles. Architectural remains are unique with historical contexts, artistic craftsmanship, and urban utilities. With its beauties, Efes creates a unique historical monument. Approximately one and a half million tourists from different parts of the world visit Ephesus every year.

Ephesus is spread over a large area and takes at least 2 or 3 hours to travel. If you are interested in such places, you have to spend all day. Transportation to this ancient city is quite easy. There are buses, trains, flights, and taxis to reach Ephesus. The best season for visiting Ephesus is between May and September. If you want to visit the ruins of Ephesus, you should wear light-colored clothes, sunglasses, hats, and sneakers. You should also take enough drinks with you.